Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley were staying in an abandoned classroom, one of many in the long list they squatted in since the school year ended, less than a week for everyone else but closer to four months for the boys.
In that time they were forced to expand their learning beyond what was strictly necessary to learn the Animagus Transformation Process because after the first week of sleeping on hard chairs and staring at blank walls it became unbearable.
Ron dearly missed his bed and the warmth that was the Weasley home, the Burrow, while Harry, who didn't miss Privet Drive, did miss Hedwig and stretching his legs around the neighborhood.
So to starve off the boredom the two focused on General Transfiguration which eventually allowed them to create and recreate their current living quarters.
The wooden floor had become a simple red shag carpet that they were able to make feel like clouds, the dull walls, sometimes gray or a dark brown, became a warmer gold color.
A couple desks became beds, bigger than the ones they were used to having in their dorms and definitely bigger than Harry was used to from Privet Drive while a few chairs became living room furniture.
The rest were made into decorations; paintings and tapestry, though mostly Ron did those whenever he got tired of practicing Human Transfiguration or Cross-Species Transformation. Harry has to admit they were beautiful, true works of art that he didn't think Ron was capable of envisioning.
They were also forced to learn Cleaning Charms; for their clothes, teeth, and themselves, neither of them desiring to chance a shower but not wanting to sit in their filth either.
Sitting in the middle of his bed, Harry has his legs crossed, the palm of his hands laying flat on his knees, and his eyes closed. The boy took a deep breath through his nose and held it in for several long moments before releasing it through his mouth.
His mind slowly recalls his memory from earlier in the year, the first time he rode Buckbeak. The memory was tinted in numerous feelings; fear, resentment, exhilaration, gratefulness, and kinship.
Kinship?
Why would he feel Kinship towards Buckbeak? He examined the memory again.
Buckbeak is a Hippogriff, a wizard-breed Chimera. He had the body, hind legs, and tail of a horse while the front legs, wings, and head were of an eagle. He was tall, standing at nine foot-ten inches with a beautiful silver coat and piercing orange eyes.
He is a prideful creature, demanding respect from anyone who dared to approach. His power deserved to be recognized and anyone who would turn a blind eye to it didn't deserve to be in his personal space.
Simple as that.
Although once respect was given and returned Buckbeak was a joyful creature willing to share his gifts. Harry recalled how easily he was allowed to mount him, the flight around Hogwarts grounds was majestic.
Truly magically.
Harry suppose he is a lot like Buckbeak; prideful, demanding respect first before giving it. A stray memory of Malfoy offering his hand on the train only to refuse it after the boy disrespected Ron.
Willing to share his splendor to those that had earned his respect though he didn't have much to give except for gold and those he surrounded himself with cared little for his wealth.
For all his similarities to Buckbeak there were just as many differences. The Hippogriff was prone to violence when disrespected and Harry would only fight when given a worthwhile purpose, anything less wasn't worth it.
From what he learned from Hagrid, the Groundskeeper of Hogwarts and the Care of Magical Creatures Professor, Hippogriffs were poor fighters especially when alone and Harry, well, Harry is anything but a poor fighter.
Opening his eyes the boy stretches out his back feeling several pops along his spine before lying down.
Four months and he still feels only an inch closer to finding his Animagus form, though even if he did it wasn't like he could successfully transform.
Reaching to the side he grabs his wand.
The foci is an inch off from a foot made from holly wood, the handle was thick and bark-like, it felt rough in his right hand. Its core is a Phoenix Feather, specially Fawkes' feather.
He put some research into what that combination meant to learn more about himself and it both came as a total surprise and not at all; Holly was a protective wood and has a tendency to pair with people who were put in dangerous situations and spiritual quests, they also like their owners to have a bite to them and though he didn't like to think about he was an angry teenager.
Usually pairing a holly wood with a Phoenix core was a bad idea but when they did it was almost always an unstoppable combination.
Twirling the tip of his wand in a counterclockwise motion he whispers, "Expecto Patronum."
Blue wisps escape the foci and a stag no bigger than the palm of his hand forms, "Hey, Prongs." Grinning, he guides the bright guardian to circle around his head.
Much like Ron who in his free time practiced Fine Transfiguration to make his art, Harry nursed a small obsession with his Patronus.
After four months of playing with it, he could summon the guardian pretty easily and change its size with little to no effort.
"What do you think my Animagus form is Prongs? It's probably something that can fly right? I mean I love flying, it's the best feeling in the world; the wind in my hair, the absolute freedom." Harry began, Prongs with no direction from him moved to his chest and laid down, "Though you were a flier too weren't you? And you didn't become a bird, so maybe those sort of things don't matter."
Prong's nozzles his head against his chest. Reaching over he lightly pats his head.
Cool to the touch.
Harry sits back up and closes his eyes, his mind drifting back to his memories. Reviewing his actions, why he took those actions, what he felt when he did them. Minutes passed and then hours flew by.
He still felt no closer to finding his inner beast.
Ron presses the tip of his wand at his arm and takes a calming breath as Harry watches, "Rusus Metallum." As he speaks he draws an eight figure before flick it.
The flesh almost vibrates as it slowly turns silver, gaining a dull sheen as it turns hard. Ron raises the arm and the corner of his lips raises, "Wicked."
Harry walks over and palms his shoulder, "Good work."
"Couldn't have done it without you, Har. Now I just need to train in a full Human Transfiguration before moving on to Trans-Species Transformation."
The two boys share excited grins.
Ron cancels the spell with a Reparifarge and moves himself to the couch, Harry following.
"We're making good progress aren't we?" The taller boy questions, " You're pretty far into Trans-Species Transformation and I'm a step or two… or four behind. You have a rough idea on what your Animagus form is and well… I'm progressing."
"You are." Harry agrees, "It's taking you some time but everything takes time."
"Eight months is a long time." Ron mutters, his mood dulling, "You're progressing so much faster than me, you'll probably be done by the end of year… or the equivalent of it and I'm…" He rests his elbows on his knees, his eyes staring blankly at the floor.
"Ron…" Harry's face falls, the happiness the two had shared leaving the room.
"What… What if we're still here in another eight months?"
"Then… I guess we'll be here another eight months." He says earnestly.
Ron's lips pressed tightly together as if he was holding in a shout, the other boy leaned towards him rubbing his back, "I miss going outside, I miss my parents, my brothers and sister."
Harry doesn't know what to say.
What could he say?
"Don't…" Ron looks at his friend with a sheen of wetness in his eyes, "Don't you miss going outside? Feeling the sun on your face? What about flying? You love flying."
Harry shrugs, "I miss Hermione but I have you, a comfortable bed, all the food I can eat, and I get to practice magic all I want. I do miss Hedwig but I know she's okay, probably bullying the other owls at the owlery." He gives a small earnest smile at the thought.
The taller boy just stares, "Would you really be okay with another eight months of… this?" He looks around at the classroom, a more liveable and homely classroom but not really a home. "Of just nothing but studying and working and sleeping and… and nothing else?"
Harry furrowed his eyebrows, he knows the right answer but it isn't his answer, "Yeah, I mean we're doing this for Hermione right? In case she becomes a werewolf. To help her during the full moons, so in service to that, I could keep going for however long that takes."
He shakes his head, "But you'll become an Animgus so much faster than me, I know it. I'm the problem. Do you think you can live another eight months, jumping from classroom to classroom, hoarding meals from the kitchen, sneaking to the bathroom to take a piss for another eight months just… just to keep me company?"
"Yes, I could." Harry nods, "I'm not going to leave you Ron, if that's what you're asking."
"No." He shakes his head in frustration, "I'm… I don't think I can. I'm going fucking crazy, Harry. I want to talk to someone else besides you." Rain falls from his cheeks.
Harry feels like a Bludger just hit him, he removes his hand from the other boy's back and feels something itchy behind his eyes.
"I'm sorry." Ron mutters, "I don't mean to sound mean but Merlin's balls Harry, I want to eat my mom's home cooked meals again, play Quidditch with my brothers. Hell, I would even talk about Muggle gadgets with dad! I just… I wanna go home."
"No one's stopping you, Ron." Harry says, his eyes falling to the floor.
"But… but I don't want to let Hermione down, she does so much for us. I… I love her and I want to help but… but… I'm so fucking tired." A tangible exhaustion sets on his shoulders, "How are you so okay?"
Harry looks up from his feet, "I guess because to me, you're my family and as long as I got you by my side then… then…"
Ron tears up more and wraps an arm around Harry's shoulder, "You're my family too, I didn't mean it that way."
Harry takes a moment but leans in, "Maybe, well, maybe it's okay if you stop. I mean if Hermione becomes a werewolf then she'll have me and nobody can say you didn't try." He begins. "And we can always pick up next school year."
Ron is silent for what feels like forever, "No, we do this together." He closes his eyes again, feeling drained. "I'm just frustrated, I'm sorry."
"It's okay." Harry forgives, "Maybe we can look through the library, search for spells or potions that can improve your mental abilities, give you more of an edge when you're studying. How does that sound?"
"That sounds… good." The taller boy nods, a hopefully expression gracing his features.
Harry wasn't a strong boy, never have been but he'd come to a realization that stuff like that was only skin deep. What we look like and who we are deep down very rarely if ever have anything in common.
He was smart, naturally intuitive in a way very few people are. Sometimes his instincts were wrong but even when they were they always led him on the right track. While physically he was weak, his arms and legs closer to sticks than muscles, his will to fight, to see something to its conclusion even to his detriment was beyond abnormal.
The Sorcerer's Stone, the Chamber of Secrets, and the Prisoner of Azkaban were only a few examples.
Ron and Hermione were similar in that regard but it was because of him they were willing to go so far, take so many risks. If he wasn't their friend they wouldn't have gotten up to half the things they did.
Harry had little trust to give and while he gave out chances if someone betrayed that trust it was hard to earn back. Even now he was bitter at Professor McGonagall for ignoring their warnings back in first year, for taking such a chance and forcing them to risk their lives. He respected her but he would never go to her with a problem.
Remus Lupin was also on his shit list all things considered. Who fogots to take a potion that kept you from killing people? He understood the panic he must have been in seeing Pettigrew on the Marauders Map but that didn't change the fact he ruined Hermoine's life and was the main reason Pettigrew escaped.
He also had little patience for arrogance or ignorance. Harry hadn't realized it then but he had no strong feelings for Gryffindor or the other houses, just pure indifference.
For the most part.
After his first year where the majority of his house turned their noses at him after he and his friends lost them a quite a bit of points and the year after when he was accused of being the Heir of Slytherin and the majority of Hogwarts turned their backs on him he stopped seeing many of them as people of importance.
With opinions that mattered.
At least to him.
Worship him one moment, vilify him the next, they couldn't make up their minds but he has.
Harry loved deeply and completely, Ron and Hermione were more than just his friends, they were his true family. Harry would do absolutely anything for them, all they would ever do was to ask, sometimes not even then.
It was the whole reason why he's going so far to become an Animgus, as much as he hates to say it if Neville had somehow got bitten he wouldn't be doing this. Wouldn't sacrifice a year of his life, potentially more, for the boy no matter how much he likes him.
Harry had a deep and passionate affection for flying and a passing interest in Quidditch. He played Quidditch because it allowed him to fly and he loved flying because it was freeing, exhilarating.
Something he got so very little of in his early childhood, something he got so very little of now.
The wind in his hair, making it even more messy. The breeze whipping around his form as if it was accepting him.
Flying is the best thing in the world and an aching part of him wanted to experience it like Buckbeak, like Hedwig. He assumes that's where his kinship with birds came from, their mutual fondness for the sky.
Birds weren't the only animals he had a kinship with. He had a deep admiration for all animals much for the same reason he loved flying; they were all free, unimpeded by people or people unless they choose to be.
Harry was so many things, some contradictory, some not. He was brave, honest, and trustworthy. He was a liar, a sneak, and a manipulator.
He was trusting.
He was paranoid.
Harry loved his parents.
Harry only knew the bare bones of who they were.
The Boy-Who-Lived.
Just a boy.
The more he understood of himself, the clearer an image of his inner animal became. The more focus he put on the image as he thought of the person he was, the deeper the connection became.
Ten months after he and Ron began their Animagus journey Harry had discovered his form.
He takes his wand tightly in his right hand and stands from his bed as he rests the foci against his heart, "Amato animo animato animagus." Between every word he taps his heart.
A searing heat envelopes his heart and travels through his veins, his muscles contract painfully before expanding.
His clothes, the too large hand-me downs he got from his cousin Dudley, shrink on his ever growing form before ripping like parchment.
Pitch black fur grew across his body as his bones shifted, he fell to his hands and a scream rips through his throat.
Ron wakes with a start and falls out of bed rushing towards his side, "Harry! Mate! Are you okay?"
Harry doesn't answer, he just screams as his body bulges, growing wider and taller. His middle and ring fingers become one as his wrists and hands become harsh, almost scale-like, turning into a mustard yellow and his nails lengthen and curved into large, deadly pitch black claws.
They were, "Talons?" Ron mutters.
At the base of the other boy's spine a long tail sprouts out, swingingly widely back and forth like an unruly snake and at the base of the tail feathers sprout forming into the shape of a diamond.
"What…" Ron's face twists, "What are you turning into? It's almost like… like…" His sentence hangs as Harry's face lengths and his jaw becoming a smooth hooked beck matching the shade of his talons while his green irises take over the white of his eyes.
The transformation seems complete and the creature breathes heavily, a pitiful cry escapes his mouth. A cross between a whine one would hear from a cat and a low screech from a bird.
Ron slowly reaches over and slides his hand across his head, "So sof-"
An explosion of feathers fills the room as large black wings, as large as his body, lay uselessly on the floor, twitching like a wounded animal.
"Fucking Merlin!" The boy falls back, his ass hitting the ground hashly.
The creature slowly stands up and tries to shake the ache of his body away, it… they… he…
Harry towers over Ron, the boy barely reaching the beast's white chest. His neck was thick, he's sure if he tried to wrap his arms around him his hands wouldn't be anywhere near close to touching, and his back was long, looking able to seat half a dozen people maybe one or two more if they squeezed together.
A true beast of a creature.
One name came to mind as he stared at his friend; Griffin.
Honest to God, Merlin damn griffin.
And not the wizard-breed kind that Goblin's use to guard their gold or farmers their land but the extinct kind, the ones that fought evil, guarded sacred grounds, and cured the righteous of their blindness.
Holy creatures in the same league as unicorns.
"Dear Merlin's saggy ball sack."
Ron breathes deeply, in through his nose and out through his mouth. His mind is clear and sharp, partially from his constant meditation and partially from a Wit-Sharpening Potion that improved his intelligence and a Memory Potion that, well, improved his memory.
It was so much easier to understand his actions, his feelings, and his character when he used them. Looking back he came to a conclusion, he wasn't a bad person, far from it.
Not by a long shot.
But he was a jealous boy; jealous of his brothers for their talents, jealous of his sister for being their parents' favorite, jealous of Hermione for her intelligence, and jealous of Harry for his wealth and fame.
He was petty and angry, irrationally so at times.
Ron could be a mean bugger without meaning too and insensitive, looking back at his first meeting with Harry he cringes in disgust. He never gave it much thought before but… how he and the other boy became friends after that was a miracle.
Though he was loyal, willing to brave anything for his family and friends. He was kind when it mattered, brave when it counted.
Ron is reliable, stubbornly so if he has anything to say about it. He wasn't a complicated person, not really and he found that wasn't a bad thing.
Harry, as he came to learn from spending all his time with him with no buffer, was a complicated person, full of equal parts misery and apathy. He loved like the best of them but that love only extended so far. He was happy when in the company of others he cared about but when by himself a visible sadness hung over him like a cloud.
Yeah, being uncomplicated wasn't so bad.
One year since he and Harry began training to become Animagus, two months since Harry achieved his transformation, Ron finally knew what his inner animal was.
Not as cool as Harry's but hey, it was still pretty wicked.
Albus Dumbledore stands guard over the prone body of Hermione Granger. Today was the day he learns if the Lycanthrope Curse won out the Phoenix Tears or if she would be the first person in Wizarding history to have bitten and not be turned.
Albus was an old man, close to two hundred years of age though he didn't look a day over eighty. He looks like a stereotypical warlock with silver hair, a long flowing beard that reaches his belly and porcelain skin as if he spent all his time in doors reading as many spell books as possible.
He dearly hoped for the latter, not that he held any dislike for werewolves but Albus was no fool and he knew they lived a cursed existence. Not because of their monthly transformations but because of the prejudice.
Even if she was turned no one of importance would know, he would not have her incredibly bright future ruined because of this.
He feels the ward around the doors to wing alert him of two people entering, he doesn't turn around, only waits.
Surprisingly he doesn't hear a creak, nor footsteps, no presence at all. He has a guess of who they are.
"I must ask the two of you if you have done what I think you've done because no matter your relationship with Ms.Granger I will not have the two of you put yourselves in such a dangerous situation without just cause."
Nothing happens but eventually he hears a small rustling and the two boys walk forward to stand beside him, Harry on his right and Ronald on his left.
The two have changed much since the last time he saw them. Ron had grown into his features, his nose nor his ears looking so big on his face.
His stance is much more confident, his shoulders wider. He now not only looks like a man but stands like one. He also seemed to have grown a good few inches, closing in on his own height at six foot-four inches.
Even his hair seemed different, looking much shaggier than he last remembered.
Harry had gone through a whole metamorphosis, he stood at a respectable five foot-ten, above average for his supposed age. He also looked like he put on a good twenty or thirty pounds of muscles.
The boy no longer looks like a carbon copy of his father with the baby fat and glasses gone. His mother's sharp chin and high cheekbones were clear to see and appreciate.
"I must say, I am incredibly impressed with the two of you." Albus starts, "I have expanded many resources both magical and mundane to locate the two of you but couldn't for the life of me find you. May I ask, how did you do it?"
"Well, we read up on a few Protective Enchantments and came across the Unplottable Charm, it said it could only work on buildings but well…" Harry shrugs, letting his sentence hang as if to say; like we would believe a book.
"Ah, that would explain it." Albus nods, "And your place of residence for the past… nine months?"
"Twelve." Ron corrects with a strained smile.
Albus hums thoughtfully and waits.
"We… um, well…" Harry rubs the back of his neck, "We never left."
Albus blinks with genuine puzzlement before he lets out a small chuckle that quickly grows into a full belly laugh, "My, oh my, I certainly didn't think of that."
Harry can't help but puff his chest in a small show of pride.
"May I assume you accomplished your goal?"
The two boys nod.
"Yes sir, we successfully became Animagus." Harry informs him and Albus feels a swell of pride in his own chest. Two of his students, two teenagers, have learned one of the most difficult abilities in the world.
An ability that requires a Mastery level knowledge of the most difficult branches of Transfiguration, a deep understanding of one's self and their flaws, and more daring than one should possibly have.
"Brilliant." Albus says with a wide smile, "Absolutely brilliant. You two have always shown an above average aptitude for Magic but this goes far beyond what I had assumed you two were capable of, what any student should be capable of."
Ron's ears burn while Harry's cheek takes a red hue.
"You two have shown remarkable loyalty that Helga Hufflepuff would be in awe of, incredible intelligence that Rowena Ravenclaw would respect, an overabundance of cunning that would make Salazar Slytherin proud, and marvelous courage that Godric Gryffindor would desire." Albus rested his hands on his boy's shoulders, "Though the school year is over, I can not let the two of you be unappreciated, so I will give you each two hundred points which will immediately be awarded at the start of term."
Harry and Ron smile so wide it looks as if their faces will split open, they give each other a loud high-five.
Albus shakes his head with his own smile, one filled with amusement. His amusement quickly dies when Hermione Granger's body twitches.
The boys notice the twitch immediately, Harry being the closet grabs her right hand while Ron walks to her other side to grasp her other palm. They hold tightly and wait.
Albus starts waving his wand over the girl before flicking the end, mist pouring from the end of his Magical Foci and taking shape into the shape of a parchment.
"Everything is going to alright 'Mione." Harry whispers.
"We're right here and we're not going anywhere. No matter what." Ron adds on.
She twitches again, much more harshly, soon she jerks and rips her hands out of the two boys grasp. Her eyes snap open but instead of her normal honey brown irises their bright amber.
"AggGhHhhh!" She screams, her back arching in pain, "MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT STOP!" Tears build at the corner of her eyes. "PLEASE!!!"
"Transform now." Albus order's the two teens.
Harry transforms first, it's smooth and instantaneous, and the headmaster breath catches; a true Griffin.
The King of Beasts and a servant of Heaven.
Ron was much more mundane, yet his Animagus form was no less impressive. A bison takes the boy's place, the beast standing a full head taller than normally with a large hump, much larger than Albus thought bison's humps usually were. Keeping him warm is a shaggy fur coat, a shade or two darker than his normal hair, and at the sides of his head are long, slightly curved, pitch black horns that are two and a half feet long, from tip to base.
Ron rubs his snout across the howling girl's back, growling softly. It almost sounds like he was humming.
Not that the poor girl seems aware. She's tossing and turning, her screams becoming louder and louder before finally it became clear that the Phoenix Tears had lost.
"CrRaCk!"
"AAaGhhH!~" Hermione's rib cage expands, one by one, forcing her clothing to strain before ripping, "KILL ME! KILL ME! PLEASE!" She begs as her limbs twist and her nails sharpen.
Fur grows from every inch of her; a deep chestnut brown much like her hair.
Albus feels his heart squeeze in sympathy, how he wished Phoenix Tears had worked, Hermione was such a good girl who didn't deserve what was happening to her.
Though did anyone deserve the Lycanthrope Curse?
Hermione screams of torture are replaced with howls of agony, her mouth lengthening into a snout along with her teeth as they became fangs.
She twists around, almost falling off the bed but the bison and the griffon keep her on the bed. Hermoine, to his confusion, doesn't shrink but grow; by the time her clothes are completely ripped away, she has fully shifted.
Albus keeps his wand at the ready as he looks her over, the boys keeping a tight hold on her.
Thankfully while she is much larger than a normal werewolf would have been she's no were near close to either boy's size, standing only a couple inches shorter than Albus. She has all the usual markers of one of they're kind; shorter snouts, human-like eyes, longer than average limbs, tuft tail, and bigger paws.
"Rrragg!" The wolf struggles, her powerful jaws snapping in fury.
The older man holds in a sigh, "It seems the Phoenix Tears may have ultimately done more harm than good." He steps closer, ignoring the angry jerks of the wolf and runs his wand over her body for a second time. After a moment, he steps back. "I'll be leaving now, please take good care of Ms. Granger."
The Griffin gives a low cry while the bison rumbles, the two seemingly struggling to keep their third still.
Albus turns away and swiftly exits the Hospital Wing.
As soon as he does, the beasts release the werewolf who rushes towards the double doors, slamming they're whole weight against it.
Harry grunts and slowly walks towards the wolf, the bison a step behind them. The wolf ignores them and continues to slam and claw at the doors, leaving large scars against the wood.
The griffin swipes at the wolf's tuft tail and gets a face full of teeth, the bison growls and slowly advances at the wolf's side which earns him a face full of claws which they stop with they're horn.
"Raa~Gh!~" Harry roars, an odd mixture of an eagle and a lion before crouching low, scratching their talons across the floor.
The werewolf gives a snarl and leaps towards him, he moves quickly to the side with grace, his wings proudly spread, creating a halo around him.
He stands proud, staring challengingly.
The werewolf bares all her teeth, her claws digging into the floor like tissue paper, I vicious growl emitting lowly.
Harry doesn't flinch, his own chest begins to rumble and it echoes through the hospital almost like an earthquake. An invisible threat enters the air.
The wolf stills and lets out a small whimper of submission, the griffin lowers his wings but keeps his eyes training. The werewolf stays still with the only movement being they're ears falling back to their head and they're tail tucking itself between her legs.
The King of Beasts tries to move back but before he does the werewolf slowly steps forward, as they close in she extends her neck and licks lightly at his beak. When the Griffin doesn't move, she stands to her full height but fear sits heavily on her back.
Ron gives his own grunt and walks towards the werewolf, he lowers himself and rubs their head against the wolf's neck before moving back. The wolf looks at the bison, they're tail wagging before stilling, they're eyes shyly meeting Harry's.
The griffin gives a nod and the werewolf howls happily before playfully attacking the bison. He rolls over like a dog, the ground shaking as he does.
Hermione wakes up, slowly and groggily. To her confusion, she's unusually warm, sitting up, she finds herself sitting in between two large, sleeping animals.
She holds in a scream of terror and desperately tries to recall how she got into this situation. It takes her a moment to realize she's in the Hospital Wing and that she's nude.
Hermione isn't a tall girl nor is she a short one, for her age she's about average or was average. She since to have been through a few changes since her transformation though not many.
For one her skin remained a warm ivory and she only grew a few inches now standing at five foot-six inches. One of the biggest changes is her strong and wiry frame that replaced her thin one. Another is her mane of bushy hair that is now silky smooth, and resting just above her tailbone.
Maybe the biggest physical change is her teeth, once they too big for her mouth now fit perfectly.
Hermione begins trembling in horrible turmoil before hearing a knock at the large double doors, "Hello dear children, are the three of you alright?" She hears Headmaster Dumbledore ask.
She see's the strange creature's eyes slowly open, and give a small chirp in acknowledgement, his wings stretching. Hermione looks at the action in awe.
The bison gives a rumble and a snort as he stands. Hermione looks over and sees the bison gives her a once over before snapping their head away from her.
'Animagi.' Hermione's mind tells her and a horrible embarrassment colors her whole face, "Who are you two?!" She covers her breasts with her arms and crosses her legs. "Why I'm I naked?! Why are we in the Hospital Wing?!"
"Ah, I've caught you three at a bad time." The headmaster's voice rings, "I'll give you all a moment."
The odd creature, who has its eyes closed, transforms along with the bison. For a moment Hermione doesn't recognize either of them until it clicks,"Harry? Ron?" She mutters in shock.
"Hey, Mione." Ron greets, his cheeks as red as her's,"How are you feeling?"
"You.. ? What! When? How?!" Hermione's mind goes a mile a minute.
"Hermione," Harry stands up and turns away, he walks over to one of the many beds and takes out his wand and waves it, "Facete." He mutters, the sheet becomes a long A-line white dress. "What's the last thing you remember?" Her best friend asks as stretches his arm with the dress in her general direction.
Hermione stares at the Transfigured dress before looking at Ron, after making sure he wasn't taking a peak, she stands up and rushes over to the dress. Quickly putting it on, she feels her racing heart slow down, "I'm decent."
Harry turns away from the wall and Ron looks up, they both give her wide and grateful smiles. For some reason it doesn't reassure her.
"Mione?" Ron starts gently, she isn't sure she has ever heard the boy's voice be that soft, "What's the last thing you remember?"
Hermione bites her lip and thinks. She searches her memories and to her annoyance they feel jumbled, distant, "The last thing I remember is… is us in the shack and… and–" Her eyes widen and snap towards Harry.
"It's fine, everything's fine. Do you remember Pettigrew?" He asks and she nods, "Okay, how about us leaving the Shack?"
Hermione hesitates but shakes her head, "Alright, so I'll start there. Everything was going pretty well when we left but turns out Lupin forgot to take his Wolfsbane Potion, he shifted and all Hell broke loose. Pettigrew escaped, Ron hit his head, and Lupin tried to attack us, Sirius transformed and drove him away, soon after we heard Sirius cry and went to help, the three of us got attacked by Dementors."
Hermione's brows furrow in worry.
"Later we woke up here and found out that Sirius was going to be Kissed by a Dementor on the Minister of Magic's order. We tried to explain that Sirius was innocent but he was convinced by Snape that we were Confounded." Harry scowls, "The Headmaster had said something and you revealed your Time-Turner."
Hermione's face goes slack and reaches for her neck only to find nothing there.
"We went back in time by three hours, saved Buckbeak and kept track of our younger selves but when we got to the point where Sirius drove Lupin off, we were in the direction he drove off too." Harry licks his lips and struggles to continue.
Hermione suddenly has an awful feeling where this is going.
"You convinced me that you could handle Lupin and told me to save Sirius."
Hermione collapses on the bed behind her and shuts her eyes tight, her body shaking.
"I went and rescued Sirius and when I explained everything he was convinced that you couldn't handle a werewolf and that we needed to look for you. I… I thought he was underestimating you but he scared me and, oh Merlin Hermione, when we found you…" Harry cries, she had never seen the boy cry before, "I called out to Fawkes and begged him to heal you but apparently Phoenix Tears and a werewolf bite don't mix, so for the past month you've been in a Magically Induced Coma."
Hermione doesn't know what to say, how to respond. Her life's over, she's read the books, she knows how little respect werewolves get, the outright hate, "How are you two Animagus?" She asks, though she already knows the answer.
But God does she's wrong.
Harry reaches inside his pocket and takes out the Time-Turner and tosses it over to her, a month before she would have fumbled it, barely catching it if she was lucky.
Now? She snatches it from the air like it's a Snitch and she's a Seeker.
"How long?" She mumbles as she looks over the Magical Artifact, "You both look so much older, please don't tell me…"
"A year." Ron answers and Hermione feels her heart squeeze in something in-between horror and awe.
"Why? Why would you wast-"
"Don't." Harry starts, standing up from the bed he sat on and walks over to her, he sits on one side of her and hugs her tightly.
Harry has never initiated a hug before.
Ron stands up and walks over to sit on her free side and gives a hug of his own, "You're worth it, all of it. Every second."
Hermione tears up, "I love you, guys."
"Back atcha." Ron grins.
"What he said." Harry matches the other boy's smile.
The three stay like that for a while, in each other's arms.
"What now?" Hermione mummers.
"I guess we should let the Headmaster in?" Ron jokingly suggests.
Hermione giggles and Harry rolls his eyes, "Sir! We're ready!" He yells.
"Wonderful." Albus enters the room, a gentle smile across his lips, "How are you three."
Harry raises an unimpressed eyebrow.
"Sorry." Albus raises his hands in surrender, "We have much to discuss, first; Hermione I wish to sincerely apologize for what had happened, it should have never occurred."
Hermione bottom lip trembles.
"There is no excuse I can give to any of you for this complete injustice but I can promise you this, I will ensure nothing like this ever happens again. I will establish new Wards around the Castle, one of which will prevent Animagi from transforming, another will inform me if an already transformed Animagi is on the grounds and keep track of them." He gives the two boys a look, "Except, of course, you two and Professor McGonagall."
The two teen's nodded, their postures relaxing.
"I already had a lengthy talk with Professor Snape who will be punished for his role during the last full moon."
Harry narrows his eyes, "What sorta punishment?"
Albus looks towards the boy and sighs, "I'm sure Professor Snape would very much dislike me telling you but considering you are the wronged party, you deserve to know. For trying to have Sirius executed despite having reasonable doubt of his guilt he will no longer be Head of Slytherin House, he will be unable to give or take points, nor will he be able to assign detention without the reason being reviewed by me personally."
"He's lost all his power." Ron mutters and a grin splits across his face, "His reign of terror is over!" He jumps up and hugs the Headmaster. "Thank you! Thank you, so much."
Albus frowns but pats the boy's back, "The fact that this is your reaction tells me alot about the kind of teacher Professor Snape is. I apologize that it's taken me this long to come to terms with it." He looks towards Harry who looks beyond shocked. "I know that there is no lost love between you and Remus but Professor Snape has revealed his affliction and thus made his life that much more difficult, all because of petty jealousy and revenge for his actions when they were children. He has shown a distinct lack of maturity I feel is needed for the intense responsibilities of being a teacher, so I removed them and will not return them until he has shown that he has grown."
Harry nods slowly.
"Now I must confess, Professor Snape is the only man I know who can concote the Wolfsbane Potion, if you wish to take it, he may have to be let in on the secret."
Hermione swallows and shakes her head, "No, I'm sorry but I don't trust him. I'll learn how to make it."
Albus raises an eyebrow, "Hermione, the Wolfsbane Potion is well above N.E.W.T level, I have no doubt about your ability but–"
"She can do it, Headmaster." Harry assures him with an intense look that is only matched by Ron, "She's the brightest witch of our age, you know." He bumps his shoulder against the girl who blushes.
Albus slowly nods, "Then I wish you luck, before you leave I will give you the instructions along with our stock of the ingredients, there's enough for five batches, that should give you some wiggle room, not much but…" He lets his sentence hang.
Hermione simply nods.
"Now, let us talk about the consequences of recent events. Your coma has been explained away by the Dementors and only myself, your friend's, Remus, and Madam Pomfrey know the true reason."
Hermione's eyes widened, "So, I'm… I'm not registered?"
Albus shakes his head and the girl sobs in relief, "Your parents have not been informed either but they are aware that there has been an incident. I will talk with them and explain everything, and the four of us will come up with a way for you to safely shift during the full moon."
"We want to help." Ron cuts in, "We don't want her to shift by herself, ever."
Harry nods in agreement.
Hermione tears up again, "You don-"
"We know we don't." Ron cuts her off, which earns him a frown, "We want to, Mione, you're our friend. Our best friend! We want to be there."
"Always." Harry grasps her hand and holds it tightly.
"Yeah, always." Ron reaches over and holds his hand over theirs.
Albus nods again, "Of course." He clears his throat and continues. "Now I want you three to be aware that the Time-Turner that was gifted to Hermione at the beginning of the year has been lost, they think that Sirius recognized the Magical Artifact and took it, no blame has been laid at her feet." He leaves the implication for the three of them to decipher.
The three look at each other for a moment before shrugging.
"Harry," Albus starts, his voice less joyful which catches all three's attention, "The Blood Ward around Privet Drive has fallen."
"What?" Harry asks in shock, "But I… I-"
Albus raises a hand, "I should have told you this but they need your presence to charge, since you're gone for eight months out of the year they need your immediate aid by summer, your extended stay caused their collapse."
Harry blinks, "Can we…" He bites his lip harshly.
"I'm glad you understand how dire the situation is despite your… dislike for your living arrangements but no, the Blood Ward can only be casted once."
"What happens now?" The boy asks.
"You are no longer safe at Privet Drive, so the only course of action is for you to move to a more magically secure home. Your relatives have already signed you over to me."
"What?" Hermione whispers, "But… but they didn't even talk to him about it! They can't just sign him over like property!"
Harry rubs her back, "It's fine, you know there was no love between us."
"No it's not fine, Harry!" Hermione exclaims, "it's not right."
"No," Albus cuts in, "it's not. I had wished that with time, love could blossom but alas my naiveté got the best of me." He shakes his head before continuing. "I understand that you have a close bond with Ronald's family, how would you feel about living with them?"
Harry begins to smile and looks to Ron in excitement but it quickly dies when he realizes something, "Ron, your family isn't in the best situation money wise, right?"
Ron frowns but nods.
"Do… do you think I would be a burden to them?" Harry softly asks.
"Harry, no! My parents love you, they would be honored to have you live with us!"
Harry shakes his head, "Ron, please. I need to know that I won't be a burden, do you think your parents could support me without anyone losing anything?"
The taller of the two opens his mouth but nothing comes out, he closes it and shakes his head, "No, we would have to cut back on a lot of things, you and I would definitely have to share a room, and dad would probably have to work more hours."
Harry sighs, "Do you think they would accept rent?"
Ron scowls, irritation clear on his features but he takes a breath, "Sorry, I know you mean well but honestly they would be insulted that you even asked."
Harry nods before turning towards the Headmaster, "Then I just wouldn't feel comfortable living with the Weasley's sir, no matter how much I want to."
"I understand." Albus nods solemnly, "Is there anyone you would feel comfortable living with?"
Harry frowns, "Beside Sirius? No."
Albus sighs, "Well then, do you think you can stay with the Weasley until I come up with some new solutions?"
"Of course, Headmaster."
"Wonderful." The older man gives the three teens a loving smile, "Then I think it's time for you three to finally leave Hogwarts."